Railway-switch



J. M. MOORE. Railway-Switch.

No. 228,665. Patented June 8,1880.-

WITNESSES I I W ATTORNEYS.,

.FEI'ERS. PHOTO-UTHOGRAPNER, WASI'HNGTON. D c

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE,

JAMES M. MOORE, OF CANTON, CONNECTICUT.

RAI LWAY-SWITCH.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 228,665, dated June 8, 1880.

Application filed October 2,7, 1879.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, JAMES M. MOORE, of Canton, in the county of Hartford and State of Connecticut, have invented a new and Improved Railway-Switch, of which the following is a specification.

The object of my invention is to arrange the movable switch-rails so that they can be operated by the engine as it passes along the track, and so that the moving of the said rails and the locking and unlocking of the switch can be entirely under the control of the driver of the engine.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 is a plan of my improved switch. Fig. 2 is a side elevation of the same. Fig. 3 is a cross-section of the switch taken on line as w of Fig. 1, and Fig. 4 is a cross-section taken on line yy, Fig. l.

Similar letters of reference indicate correspondin g parts.

Referring to the drawings, A A are the rails of the main track. A B are the switch-rails, and C C are the movable rails for transferring the train to the switch-rails. C C are con nected together by links a a. The movable points b b of rails C C are connected by a link, 0, with an arm, (I, projectingfrom shaft d, pivoted vertically in switch-stand D. The upper end of shaft d, projecting through table 6, is fixed to a lever, E, which is provided with a spring-pawl, e, which passes down through a slot in said lever in position to engage notches g g in the edge of table 0. In switch-stand D, on either side of shaft (1, are pivoted vertical shafts h h, carrying just under table 0 cams i i, which are adapted to revolve across notches g g for the purpose of throwing pawl 6 out of said notches when the switch-lever E is to be unlocked. Near the lower ends of shafts h h pulleys jj are fixed to said shafts.

F F are stands fixed on either side of the track. In stand F is pivoted a vertical shaft, k, provided with a lever, Z, and having at its lower end pulleys l Z. In stand F is a shaft, m,

provided with a lever, m, and pulleys n 12. Between stand F and the track is pivoted a doable-grooved pulley, G. On either side of movable points I) I) of rails C C, on tie H, are pivoted pulleys I I.

J is an endless rope passed around pulleys Z and j, respectively, on shafts 7a and h. Said ropes are fastened in eyes 0 on said pulleys, so as to be held against slipping.

J is a rope having one end, 0, fastened in eye 0 of pulley Z, and the opposite end, 0', passed around pulley I and fastened to the outside end of plate 19, fixed to rail C. (The link 0 is pivoted to the same plate p.)

J is a rope having one end, 19, fastened to the inside end of plate 2, thence said rope is passed around pulley l to pulley n, where its end is fastened to eye qon the periphery of said pulley.

K is an endless rope passed around pulley n, thence to double-grooved pulley Gr, thence to pulley j on cam-shaft h. Rope K, like rope l, is fastened to eyes M" on said pulleys, so as to be held against slipping.

Sufficient slack is allowed to the ropes J J, so that the cams may be operated before the pull is exerted upon the throw-rail ropes or chains.

The operation of the switch is as follows: As shown in the drawings, the movable rails C C are in line with the main-track rails AA. If it is desired to enter the switch, a suitable lever or bumper attached to the engine is caused to strike lever m, (as the engine moves along the track in the direction of the arrows lever m turns pulleys n a, and pulley n draws on rope K; said rope turns pulley j and cam c, which strikes pawl e and throws it out of notch 9, thus disengaging locking-lever E. Simultaneously pulley it draws on rope J, and said rope, being connected with plate 19, draws points I) b of rails C C sidewise until they join switch-rails B B, and in this way the switch is opened. Through links 0 points I) b move lever E until its pawl enters notch g and locks the switch. The movement of rails C C also draws rope J, and through said rope turns pulleys l l in the direction of arrow 1, pulley 1 draws on rope J in the direction of arrow 2, and rope J turns cam 11 back in the direction of arrow 3, so as to leave notch 9 uncovered for the entrance of pawl c, and also te put cam z in position to act on pawl 6 when the movements are reversed.

To throw rails C C in line with the main track the lever or bumper on the engine is caused to strike lever Z, and by this means move pulleys l Z. By the movements of pulley Z Z rope J is caused to turn the cam 2' across notch g and throw the pawl 0 out of said notch, and through rope J the ends I) b. are drawn sidewise, so as to join rails A A, and ends I) 7), drawing on rope J, turn pulley at n, and pulley n draws rope K so as to turn cain i in the direction of arrow 4, so as to leave notch g open for the pawl 0.

From this description it will readily be seen that the rails O G are operated by the movement of the engine along the track, also that the operation of the switch is placed entirely under the control of the driver of the engine.

I Having thus fully described my invention I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent I 1. The combination, with the locking-lever E, connected with the movable rail by link 0, of the cams i i, the ropes J K, and the levers I m, as and for the purpose specified.

2. The combination and arrangement of the levers lm, pulleys Z Z n n, ropes J J, movable rails O O locking-lever E, cams 'i i, and ropes J K, as and for the purpose substantially as described.

JAMES MADISON MOORE.

Witnesses:

ALoNzo WARNER, ADMIRAL P. HAWK. 

